Three major rivers—the Oostanaula, the Etowah, and the
Chattahoochee—flow from northeast to southwest across northern Georgia,
dividing the area into four distinct geographical regions. Between
Chattanooga and the Oostanaula, several parallel mountain ridges slice
across the State in such a manner as to hamper military movements. The
most important of these was Rocky Face Ridge which ran from near the
Oostanaula to a point several miles north of Dalton. This ridge rose
high above the surrounding valleys and was the barrier between
Johnston’s army at Dalton and Sherman’s forces at Chattanooga. There
were three important gaps in this ridge: Mill Creek Gap west of Dalton,
Dug Gap a few miles to the south, and Snake Creek Gap west of the little
village of Resaca near the Oostanaula.
Dalton is on the eastern side of Rocky Face Ridge. The Western and
Atlantic Railroad, which connected Chattanooga and Atlanta and served as
the line of supply for both armies, crossed the Oostanaula near Resaca,
ran north for 15 miles to Dalton, then turned westward to pass through
Rocky Face Ridge at Mill Creek Gap, and continued on to Chattanooga.
During the winter, the Confederates had fortified the area around Dalton
to such an extent that they believed it to be secure against any attack.
Johnston hoped that the Federals would assault his lines on Rocky Face
Ridge, for he was confident that he could hurl the Northerners back with
heavy loss.
Sherman, however, had no intention of smashing his army against what one
of his soldiers called the “Georgian Gibraltar.” Northern scouts had
found Snake Creek Gap unguarded and the Federal commander decided to
send McPherson’s Army of the Tennessee through this gap to seize the
railroad near Resaca. Meanwhile, Thomas and Schofield would engage the
Confederates at Dalton to prevent their sending men to oppose McPherson.
Sherman hoped that when Johnston discovered his line of supply in
Federal hands, he would fall back in disorder and his army could be
routed by the Northerners. By May 6, the Federals were ready to begin
the campaign. Sherman moved Thomas and Schofield toward Dalton while
McPherson prepared to strike for Snake Creek Gap.
[Illustration: _Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson_]
Johnston had not been idle. He had deployed his men in strong positions
to block the expected advance. He had also requested reinforcements, and
these were on the way. Some coastal garrisons had been withdrawn from
their posts and were being sent to join Johnston. More important,
though, was the large body of troops from Mississippi that was moving
across Alabama toward Dalton. These men, numbering about 15,000,
constituted the Army of Mississippi and were commanded by Lt. Gen.
Leonidas Polk. A West Point graduate (1827), Polk had resigned from the
Army to enter the Episcopal ministry. In 1861 he was Bishop of Louisiana
and entered the Confederate service where he was known as the
Bishop-General. When Polk joined Johnston the Confederate strength would
be raised to about 70,000.
Before Polk arrived, however, Sherman sent Thomas and Schofield against
Johnston’s position. On May 7 and 8, there was heavy fighting all along
the lines from the area north of Dalton south along Rocky Face Ridge to
Dug Gap. The Federals made no real headway, but the demonstration served
its purpose, for McPherson reached Snake Creek Gap on the evening of the
8th and found it open.
James Birdseye McPherson, who stood at Snake Creek Gap on the morning of
May 9 with an opportunity to strike Johnston a crippling blow, was one
of the Civil War’s most attractive leaders. Like Sherman, he was an
Ohioan and a West Pointer (1853). In 1864 he was only 35 years old. His
entire adult life had been spent in the Army, and in the Civil War his
abilities had carried him from captain to major general in slightly more
than a year’s time. Both Sherman and Grant looked upon him as an
outstanding leader—a belief shared by the Confederate editor who called
McPherson “the most dangerous man in the whole Yankee army.” He was
handsome, with flowing hair and whiskers, and he had a special reason
for wanting the war to end: when it was over he would be able to marry
the beautiful girl who was waiting for him in Baltimore. He was
courteous to men of all ranks, and his adoring soldiers remembered long
afterwards his habit of riding in the fields to leave the roads open for
them.
[Illustration: OPENING BATTLES OF THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN]
[Illustration: _For four long and bloody months, officers and men
alike endured the heat and mud of what must have been one of the
wettest seasons in the history of Georgia._]
On May 9, while skirmishing continued about Dalton, McPherson led his
army eastward, hoping to reach the railroad near Resaca and break
Johnston’s communications with Atlanta. Unknown to the Federals, there
were some 4,000 Confederates in Resaca. These included the advance
elements of Polk’s army, as well as infantry and cavalry units assigned
to guard the Oostanaula bridges and to protect the area.
The Northern advance met these Southerners near the town. McPherson,
surprised at finding so large a force in his front, moved with great
caution. Late in the afternoon, he became worried that Johnston might
rush troops southward and cut him off from Sherman. This fear, and the
fact that some of his men were without food, led him to break off the
engagement and fall back to a position at Snake Creek Gap which he
fortified that night.
In the following days, both armies shifted to the Resaca area. Sherman
began by sending a division of Thomas’ army to aid McPherson. Soon
orders followed for almost all of the Federals to march southward, with
only a small detachment left to watch Johnston. All day on the 11th the
roads west of Rocky Face were crowded with troops, wagons, and guns.
Although the march was slowed by a heavy rain, nightfall of the 12th
found the Northern army concentrated at Snake Creek Gap. Johnston
discovered the Federal move and during the night of May 12-13 ordered
his men to Resaca where Polk’s troops had been halted.
Skirmishing on the 13th developed the positions of the armies. Johnston
had posted his men on the high ground north and west of Resaca. Polk’s
Corps (as the Army of Mississippi was called) held the Confederate left,
Hardee’s men occupied the center, and Hood was on the right, with his
right flank curved back to the Conasauga River. The Federal advance,
McPherson’s army, had moved directly toward Resaca. When the advance was
slowed, Thomas moved to the north and formed his army on McPherson’s
left. Schofield moved into position on Thomas’ left.
The Battle of Resaca, fought May 13-15, was the first major engagement
of the campaign. The 13th was spent in skirmishing and establishing the
positions of the two armies. The 14th saw much heavy fighting. Sherman
delivered a major attack against the right center of Johnston’s line and
was hurled back with a heavy loss. One Northerner described the
Confederate fire as “_terrific and deadly_.” Later, Hood made a
determined assault on the Federal left and was prevented from winning a
great victory when Union reinforcements were hurried to the scene from
other sectors of the line. Late in the day, troops from McPherson’s army
made slight gains against the Confederate left. Fighting ceased at dark,
although firing continued throughout the night. There was no time for
the men to rest, however; both Johnston and Sherman kept their soldiers
busy digging fortifications, caring for the wounded, moving to new
positions, and preparing for the next day’s battle.
The heaviest fighting on the 15th occurred at the northern end of the
lines. There, both sides made attacks that achieved some local success
but were inconclusive. Meanwhile, a Federal detachment had been sent
down the Oostanaula to attempt a crossing. At Lay’s Ferry, a few miles
below Resaca, it got over the river and secured a position from which to
strike eastward against Johnston’s rail line. The Southern commander
believed that this left him no choice but to retreat. Accordingly,
during the night of May 15-16, the Confederates withdrew and crossed to
the southern bank of the Oostanaula, burning the bridges behind them.
As is the case with many Civil War battles, no accurate casualty figures
are available for the engagement at Resaca. Federal losses were probably
about 3,500; Confederate casualties were approximately 2,600.